Packaging Pointers:

Perishable Shipments
erishable shipments must be properly packaged to prevent spoilage
P and maintain product integrity. This packaging leave-behind will
help you prepare your perishable shipments for the express shipping
environment.
WHAT IS A PERISHABLE SHIPMENT?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) defines a shipment as
perishable if its contents deteriorate over a given period of time if exposed
to harsh environmental conditions, such as excessive temperature or
humidity. Some examples of perishable shipments include seafood, dairy,
plants, meat and fruits, as well as medical and chemical products.
PRESERVING PERISHABLE SHIPMENTS
Perishable products may be subjected to extremes of heat and/or cold
on the way to their destination. FedEx does not provide temperature-
controlled transportation services. With careful packaging, you can protect
your products by providing appropriate temperature protection or stability.
Materials most commonly used for this purpose include insulation and
coolants/refrigerants.
Insulation
Perishable product should be packaged with enough insulation to prevent
or reduce the transfer of heat through the container walls.
The most common insulation materials are:
A Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS)
A Rigid High Density Polyurethane
A Reflecting Surface Material (Radiant Barrier Films)
Use insulation materials to:
A Maintain products within known allowable temperature ranges
(chemicals, food, medical drugs)
A Keep products frozen (seafood, dairy products, medical specimens,
meat)
A Prevent products from freezing (chemicals, blood specimens, seafood)
A Minimize effect of extreme temperature variations (plants, flowers,
live lobsters, sensitive electronics, polymers)
A Prevent melting and thawing in hot weather (chocolates, ice cream)
Coolants/Refrigerants
Coolants/refrigerants, such as gel refrigerants and dry ice, keep perishable
products cold or frozen. Wet ice (e.g., ice cubes) has many disadvantages,
including weight, thawing, leaking, and the need for expensive water-
resistant packaging.
The use of wet ice in perishable shipments must be approved in advance
by the FedEx Packaging Design and Development Department.
Dry Ice
Dry ice, which is a solid form of carbon dioxide, has a surface temperature
of -109˚ F (-78˚ C) and is used to help keep products frozen. Because it can
change from a solid to gas in transit, space may be created in a package,
allowing the product to shift. That’s why it’s best to place block dry ice
in corrugated boxes.
When dry ice changes to carbon dioxide gas in enclosed spaces like air-
craft cargo holds, it displaces oxygen. That’s why it’s a dangerous good for
air transport and requires special handling and labeling.
FedEx requires that all dry ice shipments, including those within the
U.S., comply with IATA regulations. Some countries don’t allow dry ice
shipments. Call FedEx International Customer Service at (800)247-4747
for more information on a given country’s restrictions.
IATA limits the amount of dry ice per package to 200 kg (400 lbs.). IATA
requires the net weight of dry ice to be listed in kilograms and that the
shipper use the miscellaneous class 9 label. If an airbill is included,
certain airbill notations are required.
FedEx has designed a “dry ice” label (see at right) that satisfies the IATA
marking and labeling requirements when accurately completed. Legally
required package markings include:
A “Dry Ice” or “Carbon Dioxide Solid”
A “UN 1845”
A Net quantity of dry ice in kilograms FedEx Dry Ice Label

A Name and address of BOTH the shipper and recipient. (The airbill
does not fulfill that requirement)
These labels are provided free of charge; you may order them through our
toll free number 1•800•Go•FedEx , or (800-463-3339).
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 FedEx routing label
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airbill in pouch
(when used) dry ice label

PACKAGING GUIDELINES FOR PERISHABLE SHIPMENTS

A Shipments must be packaged to withstand different orientations
A Use insulating container, e.g., Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
containers with 1-1/2" - to 3" -thick walls. Molded containers work
best. The FedEx Packaging Design and Development Department,
(800)633-7019 can provide you with a list of suppliers
A Use a refrigerant that will keep products within the required temper-
ature ranges. Gel refrigerants are suitable for refrigerating products
within the 30˚ F (-1˚ C) to 60˚ F (16˚ C) range
A EPS containers must be placed inside sturdy outer corrugated
containers. If you wish to apply for an exemption to ship without an
outer box, submit your EPS containers and the products you intend
to ship to the FedEx Packaging Design and Development
Department, (800)633-7019, for free package testing
A If your perishable products can melt or thaw, or if your shipment
contains liquid, you must either double bag the products using
2 mil or thicker watertight plastic bags or line the inside of the EPS
container with 2 mil or thicker plastic liner and absorbent material
A Shipping perishable products over a weekend is discouraged. We
recommend that you package for a minimum of 30 hours transit time
for any perishables shipped by FedEx Priority Overnight or FedEx
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Standard Overnight . For FedEx 2 Day , FedEx 2 Day Freight and

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FedEx Express Saver , you should package shipments for at least

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12 hours more than the delivery commitment time

HOW TO KEEP PRODUCTS FROZEN DURING TRANSIT
A Freeze products at or below 32˚ F (O˚ C)
A Precool the insulated container
A If the shipment contains liquid or perishable products that can melt
or thaw, you must double bag the products using 2 mil or thicker
watertight plastic bags. An alternative is to line the inside of an EPS
container with 2 mil or thicker plastic liner and absorbent material
A Arrange products compactly, but leave space around the products for
dry ice. Close the bag securely
A Place dry ice in the corrugated box at the bottom and around the
products
A Pack tightly and fill empty air spaces with dunnage
A Place lid over insulated container. Do not seal completely. (Some
venting is needed to allow carbon dioxide gas to escape)
A Place closed, insulated container inside an outer corrugated box
A Securely tape corrugated box with pressure-sensitive plastic tape.
Complete the required paperwork and labeling

insulated container lid

dry ice blocks

product
dry ice blocks

2 mil or thicker plastic liner

insulated container

outer corrugated box

HOW TO KEEP PRODUCTS REFRIGERATED DURING
TRANSIT
Refrigeration prolongs shelf life by lowering a product’s temperature,
which delays metabolic deterioration and decay by microorganisms.
Chemical coolants (e.g., gel refrigerants) are the refrigerants of choice
for most express carriers.
A Freeze the coolants (gel refrigerants) according to manufacturers’
guidelines
A Precool the insulated container
A For shipments containing a liquid or perishable products that could
melt or thaw, you must double bag the products using at a minimum
2 mil watertight plastic bags. Instead of double-bagging your products,
you can line the inside of the EPS container with 2 mil or thicker
plastic liner and absorbent material
A Arrange products compactly inside the insulated container, allowing
space for coolants
A Place sufficient amount of coolants on top of and around the products.
Fill all void space with dunnage to prevent product movement
A Close the bag securely
A Close and securely seal the insulated container with pressure-
sensitive plastic tape
A Place the insulated container inside a corrugated outer box
A Close and securely seal the corrugated box with pressure-sensitive
plastic tape. Apply the same tape over all box flaps and seams to
restrict air infiltration

insulated container lid

coolant

product
2 mil or thicker plastic liner
insulated container

outer corrugated box

HOW TO PROTECT PRODUCTS FROM FREEZING
You can protect your products from extremely low temperatures and
freezing by using heat sinks, which help maintain desired temperatures. A
heat sink acts as a “sacrificial system” by absorbing thermal energy to keep
it from affecting the products. Chemical refrigerants like gel refrigerants
make good heat sinks. To reduce the risk of freezing, place your products
inside an insulated container and surround them with unchilled gel refrig-
erants. If you’re working in a cold environment, warm the gel refrigerants
to around 68˚ F (20˚ C). Ship the insulated container inside a corrugated
box. Use of heat sinks to protect products should be validated to ensure
desired performance.

insulated container lid

warm coolant

product

2 mil or thicker plastic liner

insulated container

outer corrugated box

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Following are the most frequently asked questions about perishable
product shipments.
How much dry ice should I use?
The optimal amount of dry ice to keep products frozen depends on several
factors, including the product mass, the internal volume of the insulated
container, wall thickness and so on. For example, if you’re using an EPS
container with a 1 1/2-inch-thick wall and maximum volume of 4,725 cubic
inches, we recommend 10 lbs. of dry ice for the first 24 hours and five lbs.
for each additional three hours. To slow the rate at which dry ice changes
to a gas, package the blocks or pellets in either corrugated containers or
wrapping paper. Additional dry ice may be needed during hot weather.
How much gel refrigerant do I need?
Your product will stay at a constant temperature if you prevent thermal
energy from reaching it. That’s why we recommend placing frozen gel
refrigerants around products to absorb heat entering from any direction.
TEST PROCEDURES FOR GEL AND DRY ICE

Objective: To determine the optimal amount of coolant (dry ice, gel refrig-
erant, etc.).
Samples: Products to be shipped, insulated containers, temperature
recorders.
Method: Conduct the test in a constant-temperature, draft-free room.
A For each coolant you are going to test, select a number of same size
containers
A Package the products in each container as you normally would for
shipping
A Place temperature probes in direct contact with the products. If
possible, place probes in multiple locations within the container
(top, bottom, middle and corner). To prevent false readings, make
sure the probes are not in direct contact with the coolants
A Place each container on a scale and load different amounts of coolant
(by weight) in each box
A Record temperature of products in each package configuration in
2-4 hour intervals for 48 hours
A Determine which container with coolant is within required tempera-
ture range at the end of the test
A For dry ice, record the weight of each box at the same time intervals
as the temperature (2-4 hour intervals for 48 hours) to determine the
amount of dry ice that sublimated (i.e., changed to gaseous from)
Conclusion: At the end of the test, see which containers successfully kept
the products within the required temperature range. For the gel refrigerant
tests, the successful container with the least amount of sublimation will
determine the minimum amount of dry ice to use.
For a more detailed test method, see ASTM Test Method D3103, “Standard
Test Method for Thermal Quality of Packages.” (American Society of
Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.)
What environmental conditions will my products be
exposed to during transit?
The variety of products that travel though the FedEx system make it
impossible to provide controlled environments to meet the temperature
requirements of all products.
When preparing your perishable shipments, take into account both the
time of year and the transit location temperatures. Lows can reach -60˚F
(-51˚ C) in carrier vehicles and open dock areas during the winter in
northern climates. Highs can reach 140˚ F (60˚ C) in closed, parked
carrier vehicles during the summer in southern climates. For worldwide
applications, the U.S. military assumes a worst case low of -80˚F (-62˚ C)
and a high of 160˚ F (71˚ C).
Depending on the location, weather, and time of day, packages are gener-
ally exposed to greater temperature extremes during ground-handling
operations than during flight. Packages are generally sorted or processed
inside covered buildings under comfortable working conditions, but many
areas are wide-open during operations.
Perishable products also face diverse environmental conditions aboard
vans, trucks and aircraft.
Vans and Trucks
The outside temperature generally determines the temperature inside
the van and cargo areas, so assume that your package will be exposed to
various ambient temperatures at different locations. Temperatures inside
enclosed vehicles and trucks are generally lower in colder months and
higher in warmer months compared to ambient temperatures.
Aircraft
Temperatures on board FedEx aircraft vary depending on the type of air-
craft, the location of each cargo compartment with respect to the fuselage,
and a package’s location within each compartment. Flight length and
cruising altitude also affect temperature.
The following temperature ranges for aircraft transportation are provided
for general reference only:
Main Cargo Compartment Temperature Ranges
Temperature ranges aboard most wide-body aircraft main cargo compart-
ments may vary between 65˚ F (18˚ C) and 90˚ F (32˚ C).
Lower Cargo and Bulk Compartment Temperature Ranges
In any aircraft bulk compartment, packages positioned next to aircraft
outer structure (worst case) may be exposed to temperatures during high
altitudes as low as 0 degrees F (-18˚ C).
Aircraft Pressure Ranges
Most FedEx aircraft are pressurized throughout flight to a cabin pressure
of approximately 8,000 feet during cruise, which corresponds to a pressure
of approximately 11 psi (compared to 14.7 psi at sea level). During aircraft
climb and descent, the pressure varies between 14.7 and 11 psi.
Some feeder aircraft, however, are not pressurized because they generally
fly at an altitude of 12,000 to 15,000 feet, which corresponds to pressure
between 9.3 psi and 8.3 psi.
CUSTOMER RESOURCES
A Perishable and Dry Ice Labels
A List of Perishable Packaging Suppliers
A “How to Pack Seafood for Overnight” brochure
A “Guidelines to Proper Packaging” brochure
A “Guidelines for Blood, Urine and Diagnostic Test Samples” brochure
A “Pointers on Packaging for Flower Shipments” brochure
A FedEx Packaging Design and Development Department (800)633-7019
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
A Your local Yellow Pages under “Packaging” and “Ice” for packaging
suppliers
A “Protecting Perishable Foods During Transport by Truck”
(Agricultural Handbook #669, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
A National weather reports on the Internet
A National Climatic Data Center CD-ROM, showing weather patterns
throughout the world. Phone 704-271-4800. Internet address:
Orders@NCDC.NOAA.GOV5
A “Principles of Cargo Handling and Perishable Cargo Handling Guide”
Published by IATA for airline and freight forwarding industries

If you have questions or need more information on dry ice shipment, ask for the
FedEx Dangerous Goods Hotline at 1•800•Go•FedEx (800)463-3339. For more
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information, advice, or to take advantage of free package testing and design

service, call the FedEx Packaging Design and Development Department at
(800)633-7019.